20230317 Installation of Lord Caitanya’s Lotus Footprints Speech

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

Jayapatākā Swami: So here we are in the holy city of Gayā. When Lord Caitanya was around 16 years old, He came here. At that time, He was known as Nimāi Paṇḍita. And His father Jagannātha Miśra had passed away and He came here to do the piṇḍi. But we know that actually, Lord Caitanya was predicted in the Vedas. That He would come as a devotee and with His devotees would start the saṅkīrtana movement. So He will be Kṛṣṇa, but He will not be in black color, in fact He would Gaurāṅga. Actually, in Navadvīpa He appeared but His first ecstasy was manifested here. Here He came and did the piṇḍi and also He took His initiation from Śrī Īśvara Purī, the favorite disciple of Mādhavendra Purī.

So our previous ācārya, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda, He started to install the lotus footprints of Lord Caitanya wherever He went. Here because they worship the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu, they are having some objection to have the lotus footprints of Lord Caitanya. This is not for offering piṇḍi. This is for reminding us that Lord Caitanya taught that this is a very important place and Lord Caitanya came here. So, Lord Caitanya He was a channa-avatāra, a hidden avatāra. And His special mercy was to give people freely, kṛṣṇa-prema.

So we are very glad that the Safari devotees, the public, congregation of this grand temple have participated in this inauguration of the lotus footprints. We hope that all the generations will protect the lotus footprints of Lord Caitanya. This is the place where Lord Caitanya first manifested His ecstasy. He manifested kṛṣṇa-prema here. So I hope that all of you will also get kṛṣṇa-prema.

Lord Caitanya, He was a special mercy avatāra. Normally, the avatāras, they deliver great brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, but Lord Caitanya told Nitāi that, “We have come down from the spiritual world to deliver even the foolish, the nīca, the lowborn, the fallen, patita and the sad, the distressed.” This was Lord Caitanya’s special mercy. And Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṇa, who is non-different from Rāma. And Nitāi, is non-different from Balarāma or Lakṣmaṇa. So, He especially gives out mercy. This is a historic location, and that the Safari devotees have participated in the installation of Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet. They are coming from over 30 countries. So this is my first visit to this temple. But I have been to Gayā many times. I was here with the Founder-Ācārya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.

So, this place is the place where Lord Buddha got His realization. Lord Caitanya thought I will go to Vṛndāvana and started running towards Vṛndāvana. A voice came from the sky and said, “Now it is not Your time to go to Vṛndāvana! Now You have to start the saṅkīrtana movement in Navadvīpa.” Hearing that, He turned back and went to Navadvīpa, He went to Kānāi-Nāṭaśālā. That is in Jhārikhaṇḍa and that is where the Safari went many years ago and we established the Deity there. I understand that most of you are chanting many rounds of Hare Kṛṣṇa. Who is chanting? Raise your hand? Thank you very much!

So we are establishing the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya in many different places, wherever He went. We established in Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Śyāma-kuṇḍa. We are establishing here. And different places around India, where He went. Thank you very much! Haribol!